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Iowa: Leading Agricultural Exporting State
Iowa is typically the second leading U.S. state in agricultural exports, bowing only to California in that category. Iowa’s agricultural exports in 1995 totaled $4 billion, an export record, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service. Reasons for the record are that the United States had large corn and soybean crops in 1994/95, China was absent from the corn export market, and foreign markets exhibited strong demand for animal feeds.
In 1995, among all states, Iowa was first in the export of feed grains and tied with Illinois for first in the export of soybeans. Iowa was also third in the export of planting seeds; fourth in the export of live animals and meat, feeds and fodders and fats, oils and greases; and fifth in the export of hides and skins.
Iowa has shown continued agricultural export growth in recent years. For the years 1991 through 1995, Iowa’s agricultural exports totaled $2.8 billion, $3.0 billion, $3.0 billion, $2.3 billion, and $4.0 billion, respectively.
Iowa Exports Test Nation’s Pulse
Iowa’s exports show more volatility from year to year than the nation as a whole because bulk commodities make up a larger portion of Iowa’s overall export profile. Still, in general, Iowa’s excellent export record parallels the export record of the nation. U.S. agricultural exports reached a record $54.1 billion in fiscal year 1995 as Iowa’s exports rose to a record $4 billion. In 1996, U.S. agricultural exports established a new record of $59.8 billion, in part due to rising corn and soybean exports. Although data on Iowa’s 1996 agricultural exports will not be available for a few months, another record is expected.
Iowa Reads Marketplace Signals
Iowa’s farm community is working to continue its exports and assure its continued economic strength. For example, in 1995, five Iowa companies participated in Foreign Agricultural Service-sponsored trade shows overseas. Two companies participated in a show in the Philippines, which generated 23 leads from prospective buyers; another company participated in a show in Germany, which generated 10 leads for new business. Two companies also participated in a show in China.
Nine Iowa agribusinesses participated in the Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) Market Promotion Program in 1994-95. The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 changed the name of the Market Promotion Program to the Market Access Program and authorized USDA’s continued assistance to small- and medium-sized agribusinesses in promoting their products overseas.
New Export Assistance Office in Iowa
In October 1996, USDA opened a regional Export Outreach Office in Des Moines, Iowa. The office provides assistance to agricultural exporters and potential agricultural exporters in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The office is a two-year pilot effort to stimulate trade. It is also a cooperative effort between FAS and the Farm Service Agency to increase awareness of export opportunities within local governments and the agribusiness community of the Midwest, particularly among small- and medium-sized enterprises, including cooperatives.
Scott Bleggi heads the Des Moines office. Bleggi is a career foreign service officer who has experience in overseas assignments as well as programs to assist U.S. private-sector market development groups.
"Our goal is to break down negative perceptions about the difficulty of exporting and provide marketing know-how and expertise, especially for high-value products," says Bleggi. "We will work closely with state and regional food industry and trade groups, state departments of agriculture, trade and economic development groups, other USDA agencies, Department of Commerce field offices and universities." Bleggi can be reached at the Export Outreach Office by phone at (515) 254-1540, ext. 653; by fax at (515) 254-1573; and by electronic mail at Bleggi@fas.usda.gov.P
Resources for Iowa Exporters
For Iowa-specific information:
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship
Wallace Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
Tel: (515) 281-5322
Fax: (515) 281-6236
For promotion of agricultural exports:
Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council
(MIATCO)
400 West Erie St., Suite 100
Chicago, IL 60610
Tel: (312) 944-3030
Fax: (312) 944-1144
For referral on trade questions:
Trade Assistance and Promotion Office
AgExport Services/FAS/USDA
Ag Stop 1052
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-1052
Tel: (202) 720-7420
Fax: (202) 690-4374
For trade leads:
AgExport Connections
AgExport Services/FAS/USDA
Ag Stop 1052
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-1052
Tel: (202) 720-7103
Fax: (202) 690-4374
For trade shows:
Trade Show Office
AgExport Services/FAS/USDA
Ag Stop 1052
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-1052
Tel: (202) 690-1182
Fax: (202) 690-4374
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